Exchanging Medical Information with Eastern Europe Through the Internet      

The American International Health Alliance, a national not-for-profit healthcare organization initiated in 1992, uses Internet technologies to aid in the exchange of medical information between healthcare providers in the U.S. and their colleagues in Eastern Europe and the New Independent States of the former Soviet Union. A major role in the exchange is played by Information Coordinators--physicians, nurses, or administrators in the partnership institutions in the region. Through a questionnaire distributed during a training session in the U.S. and e-mail exchanges, we interviewed these Information Coordinators to learn how Internet technologies are being introduced, disseminated, and adopted in their institutions. We then applied Everett Rogers's theory of the diffusion of innovations to help interpret their responses. Although now only in its preliminary stages, this study shows that technical communicators must be aware of the cultural influences--economic, political, ethnic, and institutional--that accompany technology as they communicate about such innovations across borders of culture, expertise, and ideology.

Daniels, Julie K., Ruth J. Cronje and Beth C. Sokolowski. Technical Communication Quarterly (1998). Articles>Scientific Communication>Regional>Eastern Europe

My Changing Approach to Localization  

As members of the Technical Communication Delegation to Russia and the Czech Republic, we had the unusual opportunity of discussing our communication concerns with Russian and Czech technical professionals who use many of our products and do or teach technical writing.

Cornette, Patricia K. STC Proceedings (1999). Articles>Language>Localization>Eastern Europe

Technical Communication in Russia and the Czech Republic: Observations and Opportunities  

In March 1998, twelve technical communicators and technical communication teachers visited Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Prague to investigate the status of the field of technical communication.

Shumate, Chona E., Sam Dragga, Lena Jacobson, Patricia Tegtmeier, Celia Patterson and Patricia K. Cornette. STC Proceedings (1999). Articles>TC>Regional>Eastern Europe

Translation and Localization Trends in the Baltic States  

When I first got into the business twenty years ago, most translation work was limited to the FIGS languages: French, Italian, German, and Spanish. But today, to reach markets opened by the collapse of the Soviet Union and the opening of the Chinese economy beginning in 2001, competitive businesses must tap into 'minor' languages.

Frievalds, John. Intercom (2004). Articles>Language>Localization>Eastern Europe